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[1-News-Head]

[ANCHOR=Teresa]

Ahead on NEWS 7 at six...
If you've venturing out on Interstate 81 this evening-- you'll want to allow a few extra minutes.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
And, find out what's the driving force behind this new museum in Southside.
(------------)

[Sports-head]

and Steve Mason examines the bowl possibilities for both UVA and Tech.
(------------)
[WX-Head]
[ANCHOR=Brent]
[SS=None]
The cold air has arrived! After highs in the 30's today, expect overnight lows in the teens and twenties. I'll have your workweek forecast plus the December Almanac coming up.
[Video-Open]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=Video Open]
[GRAPHIC=News7at6]
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[VO-NAT]
It's one of the busiest holiday travel days of the year-- whether traveling by air or on the ground.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[GRAPHIC=News 7 at 6]
Good evening, I'm Teresa Hamilton.

[Holiday-Travel]

[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=02-43 TC-1:30:04]
[GRAPHIC=Holiday Travel]
The Sunday after Thanksgiving is traditionally one of the top travel days of the year.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; ]
And, today was no exception at the Roanoke Regional Airport.
Many travelers found long lines as they tried to make it back home or to other destinations.
One woman we spoke with also encountered delays at other airports-- as she tried to make it back home to Roanoke.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Gabriela Arraiz/Traveler; ]
((IT TOOK MORE THAN 24 HOURS OF WAITING IN THE AIRPORT AND TRYING TO GET ON MORE THAN 10 FLIGHTS, IT WAS JUST HORRIBLE, IT WAS HORRIBLE. ))
[RUNS=10]
[OUT Q=IT WAS HORIBBLE. (DOUBLE OUT.)]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
No major delays or cancellations occurred at the Roanoke Airport today... although there were some scary moments for passengers aboard one flight out of Roanoke.
The plane-- bound for Dulles Airport-- started smoking before takeoff, so the pilots turned around and the flight was canceled.
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[WIPE WIPE WIPE]

[Traffic]

[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=02-42 TC-1:38:42]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]
[WIPE WIPE WIPE]
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;]
Motorists also found plenty of long lines and delays on the roadways.
Traffic is slow moving along portions of Interstate 81 this evening--as travelers try to make their way back home.
An accident in the southbound lanes near Daleville also caused delays.
But no major accidents have been reported in our area this evening-- just plenty of holiday traffic.
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[Tank-Museum]

[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[NEWSCAST=6 PM]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=02-51 TC-9:35]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]
Hundreds of travelers decided to make a trip to Pittsylvania County this weekend.
They were there for a preview of the "American Armored Foundation's" military tank museum.
But as Justin McLeod found out--the museum must still win a major battle before it becomes fully operational.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Pittsylvania Co.; :00]
[SUPER=01-William Gasser/Museum Director; :11]
[SUPER=@justin1; :53]
[SUPER=01-Eddie Mathews/Museum Visitor; 1:27]
[RUNS=1:50]
[OUT Q=JM, News 7, Pittsylvania County]
((((NAT SOUND OF TANK MOVING))
The wheels are in motion to turn the old Disston Plant near Danville into a museum like no other.
[SOT 1:25:38]
[IN Q=The entire collection]
((WILLIAM GASSER/MUSEUM DIRECTOR: THE ENTIRE COLLECTION IS THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE TANK AND CALVARY COLLECTION KNOWN IN THE WORLD.))
[Runs= 05]
[OUT Q=in the world]

And what collection it is.
There are 97 tanks and other artillery pieces.
You'll also find thousands of artifacts from weapons, to original paintings, to more than 700 uniforms.
The oldest piece is this body armor from 1509.
There's even a memorial wall to honor soldiers, past and present, from the surrounding area.
[SOT 1:26:52]
[IN Q=This is here for one purpose]
((WILLIAM GASSER/MUSEUM DIRECTOR: THIS IS HERE FOR ONE PURPOSE TO HONOR THOSE WHO HAD TO ACTUALLY WORK WITH THIS AWESOME EQUIPMENT AND SOMETIMES AND FIGHT AND DIE IN IT.))
[Runs= 07]
[OUT Q=die in it]

The public got its first look at the collection this weekend.
The museum opened its door for three days in advance of its spring grand opening.
[SOT 1:45:50]
[IN Q=It's been a bumpy road]
((JUSTIN McLEOD/REPORTING: IT'S BEEN A BUMPY ROAD GETTING TO THIS POINT. THE BIGGEST OBSTACLE WAS ACTUALLY MOVING AND TRANSPORTING THESE LARGE PIECES FROM THE OLD MUSEUM IN NEW YORK HERE TO DANVILLE. THE MUSEUM HAD TO RAISE NEARLY A MILLION DOLLARS TO MAKE THAT MOVE HAPPEN.))
[Runs= 14]
[OUT Q=that move happen]
((NAT SOUND OF WILLIAM STRAIGHTEN OUT RUSSIAN SOLDIER AT 1:32:19))
The collection is now here but you will only see a quarter of it.
The museum still needs to raise nearly six million dollars to pay for future renovations including building display cases.
Future plans call for a battlefield outside where reenactments will take place.
That is still years away but the public likes what it sees so far.
[SOT 1:47:07]
[IN Q=I'll be back]
((EDDIE MATHEWS/VISITOR: I'LL BE BACK. I'LL COME BACK. I BELIEVE IT WILL HELP THE WHOLE AREA BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW OF ANYWHERE IN THE UNITED STATES OTHER THAN A MILITARY BASE YOU CAN SEE THIS STUFF.))
[Runs= 10]
[OUT Q=see this stuff]

The museum believes nearly a hundred thousand people will see it in the first year.
And although it's been a wild ride so far the museum should be up and running by Memorial Day.
Justin McLeod, News 7, Pittsylvania County.))

[D'Ville-Bridge]

A major road project in Danville is making progress.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Danville]

Construction on the new Main Street bridge in downtown is on track and should be completed by March.
Once finished, the bridge will accommodate all northbound and southbound traffic until the current Main Street bridge is re-furbished.
Both bridges should be open for traffic by the spring of 2004.
The project is costing more than 14 million dollars.
(------------)

[Food-Bank]

[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[NEWSCAST=6 PM]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=02-35 TC-2:05:10]
[GRAPHIC=none]
An area charity that is known for helping people--- needs some help of its own.
Donations to the "Blue Ridge Area food banks" are down by nearly 25-percent.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lexington]
To help change that, Lexington's Downtown Association, V-M-I, and a local radio station are sponsoring a food drive.
W-R-E-L has set up a drop-off location next to its studios on Main Street in downtown Lexington.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 37:40]
[IN Q=Any of your non-perishables]
((ANDY WOLFE/ORGANIZER: ANY OF YOUR NON PERISHABLES IN TERMS OF PASTAS, CANNED FOODS AND THINGS THAT WILL MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN TERMS OF FAMILIES IN NEED. THERE ARE ABOUT TWO THOUSAND FAMILIES UNDER THE POVERTY LEVEL JUST IN ROCKBRIDGE COUNTY.))
[SUPER=01-Andy Wolfe/Organizer]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=in Rockbridge County]
[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[GRAPHIC=none]
The food drive runs until Christmas and V-M-I cadets will eventually pick up and deliver the non-perishable items to the food bank.
In Lynchburg, you can donate food at the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank office on Fort Avenue.

[Angel-Trees]

While the stores may have been crowded with shoppers this weekend, one thing you WON'T find in some local shopping malls are the Salvation Army's Angel Trees.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]
For the first time in 23 years, the trees will NOT be in Lynchburg's River Ridge Mall.
Instead, their new home is in Lynchburg's eight fire stations.
The Angel Tree program helps match needy children with a citizen sponsor who fills out the child's Christmas wish list.
Salvation Army officials say having several different locations spread out around the city may make it easier for citizens to pick up cards and drop off gifts.
The fire stations are open from noon to 7 p-m daily through December 6th.
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[Tease#1]
[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[SS=NONE]

Still ahead, the holiday shopping season is well underway, but what's this year's "hot new toy"? The answer in just a few minutes.
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[VO-NAT]
and one community is getting a Hollywood style premier for the latest big budget Civil War movie. We'll have more in just a few minutes, but first, let's check in with Brent on this cold start to December.
(----------------)

[Gods-Generals]

Some Hollywood glamour will soon be on its way to Lexington.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lexington/August 2001]

More than a year ago, the campuses of V-M-I and Washington and Lee were used as backdrops for several scenes in the civil war movie "Gods and Generals."
It's a prequel to the movie "Gettsyburg."
The film is set to open in February but not before a big premiere in the city of Lexington.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 38:55]
[IN Q=We're going to have]
((DON HASFURTHER/LEXINGTON DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION: WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE DIRECTOR, THE ACTOR, THE ACTRESSES OF GODS AND GENERALS HERE FOR THE PREMIERE. WE PLAN TO MAKE A BIG EVENT OUT OF IT. IT WILL BE A PROMOTIONAL EVENT AS WELL AS SUPPORTING OUR DOWNTOWN MUSEUMS AND OTHER NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, JUST GOING TO BE ONE WONDERFUL EVENING.))
[SUPER=01-Don Hasfurther/Lexington Downtown Development Assoc.;]
[RUNS=:20]
[OUT Q=wonderful evening]
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[VO-NAT]

That evening will be open to the public and is set for February 13th.
City leaders are still trying to pick a location to show the premiere.
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[Business-Review]

[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=Biz-Review]
[GRAPHIC=Business News]
[!!!NOTE NEW MUSIC AND OUT!!!]
Some Norfolk Southern employees get an unwanted break from the job ... plus Black Friday is in the bag for shoppers and retailers.
News 7's Rachel Cannon has this week's Business Review...
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[SOT]
[IN Q=MUSIC AND GRAPHICS]
[SUPER=@file; :08]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :32]
[SUPER=01-Leslie Dudley/GM Valley View Mall; :59]
[SUPER=01-Toni Rhodenizer/Manager Radio Shack; 1:23]
[RUNS=1:48]
[OUT Q=MUSIC GRAPHICS]
(( This week in Review...
Norfolk Southern says the holiday season isn't being kind to the railroads.
They're furloughing 81-employees at Roanoke's East End shop.
The temporary layoffs begin December first and will last at least through the end of the year.
The shop rebuilds rail cars and engines but a decline in coal exports has slowed down that work considerably.
Officials say they will re-evaluate the labor situation in January.
Retailers didn't know what to expect this Black Friday. The national sales outlook was a moderate gain of 4-percent.

But when stores opened in the early morning hours and lines went out the door, they were pretty sure the holiday spirit is alive and well in Roanoke.
Still experts say people will hold out for deals because of the in a sluggish economy.
Valley View officials are also recognizing a new trend this year. The mall is becoming a destination for shoppers.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=THE EXPANSION ]
((LESLIE DUDLEY/GM VALLEY VIEW MALL; THE EXPANSION OF HECHT'S BELK AND THE ADDITION OF OLD NAVY AND SEVEN OTHER NEW STORES TO THE MALL INCLUDING ANN TAYLOR LOFT, THEY'RE BRINGING IN REGIONAL TRAFFIC FROM OUTSIDE THE ROANOKE AREA.))
[OUT Q=ROANOKE AREA.]
If you have kids on your Christmas list, this car gadget is a must.
Zip Zaps are being dubbed the HOT present this year.
At around 20-bucks, the fast moving remote controlled car is zipping off shelves.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT ]
[IN Q=they started ]
((TONI RHODENIZER/MANAGER RADIO SHACK; THEY STARTED IN HONG KONG AND ASIA AND WE JUST IMMEDIATELY STARTED SELLING THEM ANDS WE CANNOT KEEP THEM IN THE STORES.))
[OUT Q=STORES.]
Customer demand makes the best sellers and Tammy Rivers is one mother who wants one.
Her son requested a Zip Zap for Christmas.
Radio Shack, the exclusive carrier, is out when she gets there, but she says she'll find one by Christmas morning.
For News 7, I'm Rachel Cannon and that's this week's Business Review.
[MUSIC AND GRAPHICS]))
[Tease#2]
[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[SS=NONE]
Still to come, where will the two teams from Virginia go bowling? Travis Wells will have the answer in sports...
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]
plus, after nearly half a century practicing medicine, a local dentist is still going strong. We'll have his story next.
(----------------)

[Virginia-Profile]

[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=Profile]
[GRAPHIC=VA Profile]
At 80 years old, Doctor Guy Merritt has a unique view of life and work.
He's been a practicing dentist for 48 years now, and shared his secret with Marya Jones in this week's Virginia Profile.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Guy Merritt]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00]
[SUPER=01-Dr. Guy Merritt/Dentist; :16]
[SUPER=@Marya2; :55]
[RUNS=1:24]
[OUT Q=MJN7, Roanoke.]
(( Guy Merritt knows how to brighten his patients' smiles... and often it's with humor as much as dentistry.
After 48 years on the job, he shows no signs of letting up on either.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 22:53:17]
((DR. GUY MERRITT: THEY DO ASK ME WHEN I'M GOING TO RETIRE AND I SAY, WELL, JUST WATCH THE OBITUARIES. THAT'S WHEN I'M GOING TO RETIRE. ))
[RUNS= :09]

At 80 years old, Merritt is still seeing about nine patients a day in his Raleigh Court office.
Many of them include up to three generations of families.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 22:57:32 - :36]
(( YESTERDAY I HAD ONE I'D WORKED ON HER MOTHER AND HER MOTHER. ))
[RUNS= :04]

He fell into his profession after being drafted into World War Two.
The Army made him a dentist's assistant.
When he came back from Europe, he went to college and then dental school on the G-I bill.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 22:45:46]
((NATS TALKING TO PATIENT: YOU CAN COME ON IN, WE'LL TAKE YOU IN THIS ROOM RIGHT HERE. ))
[RUNS= :02]

Merritt practices an old-fashioned brand of dentistry ... handling everything from X-rays to extractions, and likes to discuss his deep Christian faith with patients.
He also provides services for the poor ... something he's not likely to stop doing any time soon.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 22:54:23]
(( ON MY TOMBSTONE, I'M GOING TO HAVE THEM PUT -- MY WIFE'S ALREADY TAKEN DOWN NOTES ON THIS -- STRANGER, PASS THIS SPOT WITH GRAVITY. GUY MERRITT IS FILLING HIS LAST CAVITY. SO, I'LL BE UNDER THAT TOMBSTONE FILLING MY CAVITY. ))
[RUNS= :16]

But he's still got plenty of smiles to brighten before that.
Marya Jones, News-7, Roanoke.))

[S-Falcons]

[ANCHOR=travis]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=SP-136 TC622]
[GRAPHIC=Falcons]
Michael Vick's eyes had to light up today as his Falcons took on the Minnesota Vikings and the 29th rated defense
in the NFL.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Minneapolis, MN/Fox Sports; :00]

Vick did have a couple of turnovers, but he more than made up for the mistakes. This 28 yard scamper late in the third quarter tied the game at 21.
We fast forward to overtime. On the Falcons second play from scrimmage, Vick pops to the outside and then turns on the jets. The spectacular run goes for 46 yards and the game winning score. Atlanta knocks off
[SUPER=30-Atlanta/30/Minnesota/24/Final in OT;]
Minnesota 30 to 24. The Falcons have now gone 8 straight games without a loss as Vick is putting together quite a bid
for the MVP award.
(------------)

[S-Giants]

In the Meadowlands, Eddie George became Tennessee's all time leading rusher passing Earl Campbell. George scored a TD for the Titans.
Tiki Barber rushed for 64 yards and a score, but the Titans beat the Giants 32-29 on a Joe Nedney field goal in OT. Now here's all of today's NFL scores.
(------------)

And just to update, the Cavs options shrunk by one this afternoon when Clemson accepted an invitation to play in the Tangerine Bowl in Orlando. Seattle and Charlotte are still possibilities for UVA while Tech should know something definite about the Insight by Monday. The Hokies are ranked 14th in the Coaches poll and 18th in the AP this week.